Some of the candidates in the North Shore City Council race will hold a rally outside Borough Hall at 4 p.m. today to protest Ken Mitchell's attempts to have opponents in the Feb. 24 special election removed from the ballot.

A hearing will be held this afternoon at BOE headquarters in Lower Manhattan on petition challenges launched by Mitchell against four other candidates in the race: Tom Curitore, Rajiv Gowda, Donald Pagano and John Tabacco.

In his challenge, Mitchell has said that his opponents gathered signatures from voters outside the North Shore district or from people who are not registered to vote.

Speaking to the impact the issue might have on voters, Mitchell said. "The law says you have to get 'X' number of valid signatures. It doesn't say 'do the best you can.' I think the voters are smart enough to realize you have to gather signatures that are valid."

The Rev. Dr. Tony Baker, Debi Rose and Paul Saryian are also in the race. Mitchell has not challenged their petition signatures.